GUNDERSON, John
GUNDERSON, ERICKSON, HAUSKJALD, GAUDER, GROTH, LARSON, THORSON
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 2/3/2011 at 16:23:57
#1:
John Gunderson, living on section 4, Newburg township, Mitchell county, is of Norwegian birth and has been a resident of America since the age of fourteen years. However, he possesses many of the substantial characteristics of the Norwegian race, including the industry and reliability for which the people of the land of the midnight sun are noted. He was born in Soler, Norway, December 1, 1848, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Gunder Erickson, who in 1862 crossed the Atlantic with their family and settled at Beloit, Wisconsin. After four months, however, they removed to Madison, Wisconsin, where they lived for two years, and in 1864 came to Mitchell county, Iowa, where the father secured one hundred and twenty acres of land. He cultivated that tract for a time, but eventually sold and removed to Swift county, Minnesota, where his remaining days were passed, his death there occurring February 21, 1899. His wife has also departed this life. In their family were five children: Martha, Mary, Betsy and Erick, all deceased; and John.
The last named acquired his education in the schools of Norway and since the age of sixteen years has been dependent upon his own resources. On the 25th of September, 1873, Mr. Gunderson was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Thorson, a daughter of Knut and Sonova Thorson, both of whom were natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson became the parents of twelve children: Mrs. Ingwald Hauskjald and Mrs. Ed Gauder, of Montana; Gustav, Julius and Gilbert, in Canada; Mrs. Anton Groth and Mrs. Peter Larson, of St. Ansgar; Knut, George and Lillie, at home; and Nellie and Gilbert, deceased.
In his political views Mr. Gunderson has always been a republican since becoming an American citizen and to the party he has given stalwart support, nor has he sought office as a reward for party fealty. However, his fellow townsmen have recognized his worth and his loyalty and have called him to positions of public trust. For four years he served as trustee of Newburg township and for two years he has been a school director. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of St. Ansgar, in which he formerly served as trustee. In the work he is deeply interested, giving generously to its support, and his aid and influence are always found on the side of right, progress and improvement. For fifty-three years he has been a resident of Mitchell county and therefore has witnessed practically its entire growth and development. He has seen this section of the state when there were few settlements here and the wide prairies were largely uncultivated. He has lived to witness a remarkable transformation and has borne his full share in the work of promoting its agricultural development.
Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, Page 377.
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#2:
John Gunderson, a farmer in Newburg Township, was a native of Norway. John was born December 1, 1848 near Brandval, Solor, Hedmark County of Norway. He was the son of Gunder and Eli Erickson Kirkhus and emigrated to America with his parents and family in 1862. They settled near Beloit, Wisconsin, moved to Madison, Wisconsin and then to Mitchell County, Iowa in 1864.
John married Barbara Thorson Sagabraten in 1873 and started farming in Newburg Township where they lived the rest of their lives.
Barbara Thorson Sagabraten was also a native of Norway, the daughter of Knut and Sonneva Thorson Sagabraten. She was born November 16, 1851 in Gol, Buskerud County, Norway and emigrated from Norway in 1865 with her parents who settled in Newburg Township, Mitchell County. Barbara was a member of the first confirmation class in the stone church at St. Ansgar.
John Gunderson was a township officer and both he and Barbara were active members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
John and Barbara Gunderson were parents of twelve children: Celia (Mrs. Ingvald Havskjold); Gustave; Ida (Mrs. Anton Groth); George; Julius, Ella (Mrs. P. A. Larson); Gilbert (died in infancy); Mary (Mrs. Ed Gaarder); Gilbert S.; Knut; Nellie, and Lillie (Mrs. Harvey Warrington). Four of their children, Celia, Gustav, Julius and Gilbert S. homesteaded in Alberta, Canada in the early 1900's and the rest of their children were all residents of Mitchell County.
The following grandchildren are living in Mitchell County: A. Conrad Groth, Ardella Groth Warrington, and Lucile Warrington Gunsallus.
By A. Conrad Groth
(SB)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTE: Other sources indicate that John Gunderson was born on December 9, 1847, not Dec. 1, 1848.
The Conrad Groth sketch above, and photo below are from MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, 1989.
Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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